Fast action on meningitis

Meningitis can be life-threatening for babies and children if you don't act upon the early warning signs. Experts are warning parents when it comes to this condition, you can't afford to wait

Most of us know that meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain (meninges), that it's caused principally by bacteria or viruses – and that it can be deadly.

Babies and young children can die of bacterial meningitis, the most serious strain, within hours if they're not treated, and the bacteria can also cause life-threatening meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning), which needs immediate antibiotic treatment.

But despite the seriousness, many of us still don't know the early warning signs, according to Sue Davie, chief executive of the Meningitis Trust.

Now the trust is launching a new campaign to highlight the need for urgent action: "You can't afford to wait," Davie insists. "Even if children survive, the illness may still result in problems such as permanent hearing loss, behavioural and learning difficulties."

Part of the problem is that the early signs of meningitis are nonspecific and look like many less serious conditions. The trust has produced a free credit card-sized symptom card, detailing possible signs for babies and toddlers, and for children and adults.

A 'non-blanching' rash (one that does not fade under pressure) is one sign of meningococcal septicaemia. The usual DIY test for this is to press a glass tumbler against the skin and look through it to see if the rash has faded.

There are also two new home tests you can buy – the Arc and the Menitest – as an alternative to the tumbler test.

The Arc, a curved piece of Perspex, has basic symptoms printed on it, plus a leaflet from the Meningitis Trust. The Menitest includes the Meningitis Research Foundation's helpline and a leaflet.

But although they're inexpensive (just under £10 each), a GP in a busy practice near me is sceptical about their usefulness. "I'm not a fan of the tumbler test," he says.

"By the time it's positive, the disease is often in its later stages and even swift treatment then may not prevent death or disability. Also, it's not a reliable predictor: children with meningococcal infection may not have any rash. The key indicator of meningitis is if the child becomes rapidly and relentlessly more ill – that should ring alarm bells."

My advice? We should all carry the Meningitis Trust card in our purses, so we are familiar with the symptoms (see below).

I sat down for a few minutes to skim through Nuala Gardner's book A Friend Like Henry, about a golden retriever who helped her severely autistic son Dale find a way of communicating with the outside world.

Hours later, I was still there, with tears running down my cheeks – for the appalling difficulties faced in dealing with the condition and with officialdom, but most of all for the extraordinary devotion and empathy between the boy and his dog. Just buy it, please.

To order A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner for £14.99 post free, contact the YOU Bookshop, tel: 0870 162 5006, you-bookshop.co.uk

Uplift for bra team

Colleagues in the Mail on Sunday advertising department are supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer as part of the company's 'Giving Something Back' initiative.

They're holding a sports day — with lots of trad games such as egg and spoon races — in southern Spain. The twist is that the MoS team will be running around in bras!

Team leader Jill Ratcliffe says: "We've raised £1,200 in pledges already and would love the support of readers to make lots more for Breakthrough." To donate from now until the end of October, go to justgiving.com/ tmos_bbc